Chapter Text
“It’s yours! Your quirk, not his!”
Those words struck Shoto’s heart like a lightning bolt. Never had he thought of his cursed left side as a part of himself. It was always his father. Whenever he caught himself in a mirror, the hair, the hand, the arm, the eye, the scar. They were all his father. Not him.
But it was him. As much as he hated it, his fire was his. He couldn’t deny it. He had to embrace it if he was going to win this.
But did he want to win? He looked at his opponent. Midoriya looked battered, bruised, broken, but undeniably determined. If he didn’t use his fire, he would lose.
The moment the heat of his left side ignited, Shoto Todoroki changed forever.
OoO
Two weeks had passed since the sports festival, but Todoroki couldn’t stop thinking about that fight. He had thrown the match with Bakugou since he didn’t want to win that fight. It wasn’t his fight to win. Bakugou wasn’t his rival, Midoriya was.
Todoroki wasn’t much of a strategist, it was something he had to work on, but as he thought the fight over in his head, he noticed an undeniable flaw in Midoriya’s approach. He insisted that Todoroki not lose. Todoroki knew that Midoriya was smarter than that, and he seemed so determined to win. Why encourage Todoroki?
It was the question that he was thinking about when he bumped into something short on his way to class.
“Oh!” Midoriya called out as the two crashed together, “Sorry about that Todoroki!”
Todoroki snapped out of his contemplation and picked up Midoriya’s hero journal that he dropped, “No, I’m sorry.” Todoroki caught a look at the cover, “Number fifteen? How many of these have you filled?”
Midoriya blinked at him, “Ummm…fourteen…”
Todoroki blushed, “Oh, yeah, that makes sense.”
Midoriya smiled at him and walked into the classroom.
Todoroki sighed and leaned against the wall, “Idiot.”
Class went by in a blur. Todoroki couldn’t stop think about Midoriya and the fight. He kept glancing at the green haired teen, specifically his hands. They were still bandaged from the fight. The fight with him. He hurt them.
Aizawa announced that training that day would be one-on-one spars. After getting his costume on, Todoroki joined the class in the gym.
Midoriya walked up beside him, “You changed your hero outfit to blue?” He asked.
“Oh, yeah. I like the gym uniform’s color so I…stole it.” Todoroki explained.
Midoriya laughed, “Hopefully the school doesn’t sue you!”
Todoroki’s eyebrows came together, “You really think they’d do that?”
Midoriya blinked at him, “No, Todoroki, it’s a joke.”
Todoroki blushed again, “Oh, right, yeah.”
Midoriya’s smile faltered for a second but perked up when Ururaka joined them.
“Hey Deku! How’re your hands feeling?” Ururaka asked.
Midoriya held them up, still bandaged under his thick gloves, “They’re healing great! I should be able to unwrap them in a few days.”
Todoroki looked down, the guilt hitting him again.
Aizawa cleared his throat, “Okay, I know some of you already had one-on-ones during the sports festival, but it remains a useful tool in honing your skills. First up, Midoriya and Ojiro.”
Todoroki wasn’t too concerned. He knew Midoriya could fight Ojiro easily. So why did he suddenly feel anxious?
The fight was over quickly. Midoriya was able to out flank and outthink Ojiro and took the fight.
“Alright, next, by demand of a certain student,” Aizawa rolled his eyes, “Todoroki and Bakugou.”
Todoroki looked over at the fiery blonde, who wore a furious expression.
“Get up here you half and half bastard.” Bakugou seethed from the fighting platform.
Todoroki looked at him with little interest, “Fine.”
As soon as Todoroki entered the ring, Bakugou charged at him, propelling himself with his explosions. Todoroki dodged, sliding with his ice. Bakugou whizzed around keeping up with Todoroki. Todoroki noticed more and more frost was building up on him already.
“Come on! Use your fire you coward!” Bakugou raged.
A fist came right next to Todoroki’s face. As it pulled away, Todoroki noticed a crack on Bakugou’s right arm gauntlet.
“Alright.” Todoroki said as he created a small spark and tossed it into the crack.
The gauntlet exploded and threw Bakugou back.
Bakugou struggled up, “What the hell was that?!”
Todoroki shook his head, “Don’t play with fire.”
Bakugou shouted angrily and charged again at Todoroki, who summoned a wall of ice, holding Bakugou in place, leaving his head exposed.
Todoroki placed his hand on Bakugou’s head, “Tag.”
“Todoroki wins.” Aizawa announced.
Claps erupted, cheers came from Midoriya and Ururaka. Todoroki blushed.
He then turned to Bakugou, “Here, I’ll melt you out.”
Bakugou turned his eyes away, “Yeah, you better.” There was a pause, “Good attack.”
“What?” Todoroki quietly asked.
Bakugou turned his gaze slightly toward him, “The spark in my gauntlet. It was a smart move. A cheap move. But smart.”
“I got lucky.” Todoroki said simply.
“Yeah, no shit. I won’t go down so easily next time you half and half bastard.” Bakugou stated.
“I get that I’m pale, but no more than you.” Todoroki said.
Bakugou blinked, “What?”
“Half-and-half. You’re referencing the creamer and saying that I’m pale.” Todoroki said.
Bakugou blinked, “Are…are you…are you actually this stupid or are you putting on a bit?”
Todoroki blinked, “A bit of what?”
“Oh god. Just get me out of here.”
OoO
“You were great out there Todoroki.” Midoriya stated as they changed back into their school uniforms.
Todoroki looked at him with surprise. Midoriya was smiling at him, green eyes filled with happiness. He couldn’t respond. He tried to form words, but he couldn’t find them. Midoriya’s eyes flickered down.
“Yeah man! You did great!” Kirishima came over to them and put his arm around Todoroki’s shoulder, “I’ve never seen anyone take Bakugou down that quickly!”
“Shut up shitty-hair!” Bakugou yelled from across the locker room.
Midoriya chuckled and said in a soft voice, “You better watch what you say Kirishima, Bakugou doesn’t take criticism too well.”
“Shut up nerd!” Bakugou yelled back.
Kirishima shook his head, “We really gotta help him with that. And Mido, call me Kiri. It’s way easier!”
Todoroki found the ability to speak again, “You can call me Todo, if you like.”
Midoriya chuckled, “But everyone already calls you ‘Roki! But would you prefer Todo?”
Sero, who was changing on the other side of Midoriya, pitched in, “Why would we call him after a dog?”
Kirishima, Todoroki, and Midoriya gave him a confused look.
“You know, the Wizard of Oz?” Sero explained.
All three shook their heads.
“Judy Garland? Black and white then into color?” Sero kept trying.
“Is that her quirk?” Midoriya asked.
Sero sighed, “I live in a cultural wasteland.”
Todoroki turned his attention back to Midoriya, “You can keep calling me ‘Roki, if you like.”
Midoriya turned and looked into his gaze. He smiled at him and turned his attention to tying his shoe.
Todoroki turned and faced his locker, a slight blush rising in his cheeks.
Kirishima looked over from his locker and smirked at him.
OoO
“A camping trip?” Yaoyorozu moaned.
“It’ll be just for a week. And it’s not a vacation, it’s a survival training camp.” Aizawa stated.
Todoroki looked over toward Midoriya. His injuries had long since healed, but the scars on his hands were still present. The scars that he caused. He had hurt him.
Midoriya’s hand was raised, “Sir, where are we staying?”
“All that information is being kept secret for the time being, you will learn where we will be when we arrive.” Aizawa said, “Even I don’t know exactly where it is.”
This caused some murmurs throughout the classroom.
“Now,” Aizawa continued, “as you know, your former comrade Mineta will not be joining us, following an unfortunate incident with a steamroller and a pregnant black bear. He will be replaced by someone I’m sure you all recognize.”
That is when Shinsou entered the room.
“Shinsou!” Midoriya stood up and smiled widely. Todoroki felt a pang of jealousy. Where’d that come from? Todoroki thought.
Shinsou did not return the smile, instead walking across the room and taking a seat between Yaoyorozu and Midoriya.
Right behind him. That brainwashing villain. He won’t hurt Izuku again. Todoroki thought.
“Anyway, that’s all for class today. Begin preparing your supplies for the trip, we leave Monday next week.” Aizawa stated.
After class, Todoroki saw Midoriya talking to Shinsou, or at least trying to. It seemed very one sided. Todoroki grabbed his bag and was about to walk over to try and save Midoriya, but Yaoyorozu stood in his way.
“Hello Todoroki.” She greeted.
“Hello Yaoyorozu.” Todoroki responded, looking slightly over her shoulder at Midoriya.
“Oh, please, call me Momo, everyone else does.” She smiled.
Todoroki nodded, “Alright, will you…”
“I was wondering,” Momo inturupted, “if you would like to accompany me to the train station. Maybe we could ride together? I believe my stop is just after yours.”
Todoroki looked at her with an indifferent gaze, “That sounds agreeable.”
It was then Midoriya stood up, “Okay, see you tomorrow Shinsou!”
“Mido!” Todoroki called out, a little louder than he wanted to.
Midoriya jumped slightly at the suddenness of his name. He chuckled, “Hello ‘Roki, what's up?”
“Would you care to join us on our walk to the train station, Momo’s coming too.” Todoroki explained.
Momo looked at Todoroki with confused eyes, “Oh, I thought…”
“Oh, I would ‘Roki, but I have to…” He paused suddenly, like he was thinking what to say, “I have some quirk training I wanted to get done and can only do them in the gym.”
Todoroki nodded, “Okay.”
Midoriya smiled at him and began to walk away.
“Quirk training does sound like a better use of my time. May I join you?” Todoroki looked at him.
It was Midoriya’s turn to blush, “Umm, what about Momo, weren’t you going to accompany her?”
Todoroki blinked and looked back at her, “You don’t mind, do you? I do need the practice.”
Momo looked at him with a mixture of exasperation and understanding, “Training comes first. I will see you tomorrow.”
Momo collected her books and walked out of the classroom.
Todoroki returned his gaze to Midoriya, who was looking at him with an uncertain expression.
“I don’t think that was very kind ‘Roki.” Midoriya stated.
Todoroki’s eyebrows pushed together in a confused way, “What wasn’t?”
“Momo, I think she was trying to ask you out on a date.” Midoriya answered.
Todoroki nodded, “But I’m not interested in dating.”
Midoriya’s eyes gave a flash of sadness, before turning away from Todoroki, “Well, I’d tell her that, because I think she thinks that you are.”
Todoroki nodded, “So, where are we training.”
“Yeah, where?” Midoriya and Todoroki both jumped at Shinsou’s sudden intrusion, “I need guineapigs to train my quirk on.”
Midoriya sighed, “Look, there is no training.”
Shinsou nodded, “Oh. Okay.” He then left.
Todoroki, unfortunately for Midoriya, wanted an explanation, “If there’s no training, why’d you say…”
“I’ll tell you, but you have to promise to keep it to yourself.” Midoriya said.
Todoroki nodded.
Midoriya sighed, “I’m meeting with All Might for a bit.”
Todoroki blinked at him, “Father son time?”
Midoriya rolled his eyes, “Todoroki, for the last time, I am not All Might’s secret love child!”
Todoroki nodded, “Alright, so why are you meeting him.”
Midoriya looked down again, “I can’t tell you.”
Todoroki stiffened, “It’s not anything…improper?”
Midoriya’s eyes widened, “NO! You think…! All Might would…Never!”
“Okay.” Todoroki said simply as Midoriya’s face turned into a tomato.
“It’s just…it’s quirk related stuff. We have similar quirks and he’s just helping me get a handle on it, that’s all.” Midoriya explained.
Todoroki looked down at Midoriya’s hands. Midoriya followed his gaze and held them up.
“They’re better now. For a moment, I thought I’d lose them.” Midoriya chuckled.
“I’m sorry.” Todoroki stated.
Midoriya blinked at him, “For what?”
Todoroki lifted his gaze to Midoriya’s eyes, “For hurting you.”
Midoriya chuckled, “It was a match. You were supposed to. You didn’t do this. I pushed myself too hard.”
Todoroki looked down, “Still, I shouldn’t’ve…”
“We both did what we had to do.” Midoriya stated strongly, “No sense in apologizing for it. I’m going to train with All Might, so I don’t have to hurt myself like that to use my power.”
Todoroki looked at him and saw that look in his eye again. The look Todoroki saw when Midoriya told him who his quirk belonged to.
Todoroki smiled, “Alright. I won’t apologize again.”
Midoriya smiled, “Good. Now get going. You have a train to catch.”
Midoriya turned and walked away from him, Todoroki lingering a bit longer.
OoO
Todoroki stood on the train platform, waiting for its arrival, when Momo walked up to him.
“So,” she began, “seems we are taking the train together after all.”
Todoroki looked at her and nodded, “Appears so.”
Momo chuckled and looked down the track.
Todoroki kept his eyes on her, “Look, Momo, I have to tell you something.”
Momo looked back at him, “What is it?”
Todoroki looked down, “Uh, well…I was just…Were you…”
“Ah, here it is.” She said as the train entered the station. She grabbed Todoroki’s hand and led him to a pair of seats, “Now, what were you saying.”
“I was just asking if…”
Todoroki was cut off by a vendor who was trying to sell overpriced candy in the crowded car, “Cherry, grape, lemon! I have them all!”
“No thank you.” Momo smiled at the man.
“Oh, lovely girl, you have a sweet tooth, I can tell, just give me a chance.” The vendor insisted.
“No, I really am fine.” Momo said, smile fading.
“With such a nice face, sugar keeps you young! Take a chance, buy…”
“The lady said no.” Todoroki stood up, ice forming on his fist, “I suggest you listen to her.”
The vendor backed away, “Okay, okay, excuse, excuse.”
Todoroki sat back down.
Momo looked at him with gleaming eyes, “My savior. Thank you.”
Todoroki looked at her with a confused look, “I was just getting annoyed. You could’ve easily handled him.”
Momo smiled at him, “So, what were you saying?”
Todoroki looked at her, “I just don’t want you to be confused by my intensions toward you.”
Momo nodded, “Oh, no. I understand.”
“You do? Midoriya said you might’ve lost my meaning.” Todoroki explained.
“Oh, no, I think I know exactly what you meant.” Momo smiled.
“Midoriya’s much better at social situations than I am.”
“That he is, but you don’t need that. You’re talented in other ways.” Momo scooted closer to Todoroki.
“I’m not sure. Midoriya’s kind, honest, true, noble, powerful. There’s much I could learn from him.” Todoroki said.
Momo scooted even closer to the point that their knees were touching.
Momo closed her eyes and leaned in. And leaned.
And leaned. And leaned.
She opened her eyes and saw Todoroki standing next to her instead of sitting.
“Um, what are you doing?” Todoroki asked.
Momo blinked and sat upright, “I was…listening…you have a very…interesting way of talking.”
“Oh. It looked like you were trying to kiss me.” Todoroki stated.
“What?! No! I wouldn’t do that on a packed train!” Momo blushed.
Todoroki nodded.
“So the understanding we came to, was…” Momo began.
“Was that I wish for our relationship to remain platonic.” Todoroki explained in his overly formal way.
Momo nodded, “I see. Well, I believe my stop is coming up…”
“Not for another thirty minutes. And it’s after mine.” Todoroki said.
“Oh, yes. Of course.” Momo said, adjusting her book bag as Todoroki sat back down.
They sat in awkward silence for a minute.
-
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“You were trying to kiss me, weren’t you?” Todoroki asked.
“I think I’ll just catch the train after this.” Momo stood up as the train stopped.
OoO
“Five, ten, fifteen, nineteen…” Aizawa counted, “Who are we missing?”
Bakugou approached the group that was assembled in front of the bus, “Here.” He said simply.
Aizawa nodded, “Alright, Bakugou makes twenty. Now remember, this trip is not a vacation, but a…”
“Survival training challenge.” The class finished. This wasn’t Aizawa’s first time telling them exactly what this trip was for.
Aizawa blinked, “Yes, exactly.”
Without another word, Aizawa boarded the bus, along with Mic, who was co-chaperoning. There was talk to have class 1-B join 1-A but it was voted down at the request of 1-B. Their camp would begin the next week.
Todoroki walked down the bus aisle, looking for an open spot. His overly polite nature made him chronically last place in lines.
“’Roki!” He heard Midoriya call to him, “We’re all sitting over here, join us.”
Todoroki let a small smile pass over his lips at the sight of Midoriya, Ururaka, and Iida all sitting together. A group of friends. Was he a part of it?
“Yeah, go sit with your nerd friends half-and-half bastard.” Bakugou rolled his eyes.
Todoroki nodded. Guess he was part of it.
Kirishima elbowed Bakugou and gave him an angry glance, “I don’t know why you gotta be so nasty to ‘Roki. He’s done nothing to you.”
Bakugou let out a signature Tsh, “He’s a competitor. Needs to be taken down a peg. Thinks his quirk makes him better than us.”
Kirishima blinked, “I don’t think so. Seems he hates his quirk. At least the fire side.”
Bakugou looked at Kirishima with confused eyes, “How do you know that?”
Kirishima smiled at him, “I’m a people person.”
Bakugou rolled his eyes.
“Hey, wait.” Kirishima began, “Don’t I need to be taken down a peg?”
“No.” Bakugou said, “You’re exactly at the peg you should be.”
Kirishima crossed his arms and looked out the window, “Below you.”
Bakugou turned his head toward him, “With me.”
Kirishima’s eyes went wide and a slight blush crossed his cheeks as he turned to see Bakugou closing his eyes and putting headphones in.
Todoroki took a seat next to Iida, behind Midoriya and Ururaka.
“This is gonna be so fun guys! I wonder if there’ll be time to go for a hike!” Ururaka suggested.
“This is not a vacation Ururaka, this is a training camp.” Iida reminded.
“Maybe there’ll be hiking training! You don’t know.” Ururaka crossed her arms.
Midoriya turned his attention to Todoroki, “You like hiking ‘Roki?”
Todoroki met his gaze, “Not very much. I like the indoors. But like everything else, hiking has its benefits.”
Midoriya smiled at him, “You have a funny way of explaining things.”
Todoroki blushed slightly, “I do? How?”
“Just your way of speaking. It’s very formal and…precise.” Midoriya explained.
Todoroki nodded, “It comes from growing up in a public family. My father was always a top hero, so I was raised in the spotlight. I took elocution lessons from an early age.”
Midoriya nodded, “I see.”
A moment of silence passed.
“Have you seen your father since…”
“No.” Todoroki said quickly.
Midoriya blinked at the quickness of his response, “Okay.”
Another moment.
“I did see my mother.”
Midoriya looked up at him and smiled, “That’s good. How is she?”
Todoroki looked at him and smiled, “She’s alright. Happy to see me again.”
Midoriya nodded, “And what about you? How are you doing?”
Todoroki was surprised by the question. No one had asked him how he was in a little while. His mom may have, but he couldn’t remember.
“I’m fine.” Todoroki smiled.
Midoriya nodded, “Good. Just know, if you need anything, I’m here.”
Todoroki didn’t know how to respond to that. Midoriya’s bright green eyes looked so earnest and happy. How could he be so kind? How? To someone he barely knows. If he knew Todoroki better, would he still be as kind? Would he be kinder? Was that possible? He had barely known Midoriya more than two months, and in that time, they had battled villains together, fought each other, and trained together. Todoroki was nowhere near as close to anyone else in the class than he was with Midoriya.
Midoriya stayed smiling at him. He was still looking at Todoroki, whose brain had decided to start working again.
“Thank you Mido.” Todoroki returned the smile.
Midoriya turned back around in his seat, as Todoroki leaned back in his.
There was an odd flicker feeling in his heart. A small one, but noticeable. Maybe he should make a doctor’s appointment?